​ND GoesPINK!

By Gabriel MillarNotre Dame’s annual Pink Day was held last Wednesday on October 24. Keziah Oduro, Notre Dame’s Student Council Co Prime Minister, called the event a “smashing success thanks to all of the staff and students who sacrificed their time and energy to make this day possible”.

Pink Day helped support cancer research by raising money for the Terry Fox Foundation. The Terry Fox Foundation is an organization dedicated to creating a world free of cancer, thus, fulfilling the dream of Canadian icon, and the founder of the Marathon of Hope, Terry Fox. All the money from buyout tickets, Pink Day shirts, and the bake sale goods went to the Terry Fox Foundation. In total, the Notre Dame Community was able to present the Terry Fox Foundation with a cheque for $2,103.53.

ND Field Hockey:​HCAA Champions!

By Daniella LopezNotre Dame’s Jr and Sr girls field hockey teams are off to a great start winning the first Halton Championships of the season.

The Sr Girls Field Hockey Team went undefeated in the regular season. Winning all 8 of their games. Notre Dame’s highest scoring games were 6-0 against Jean Vanier and Holy Trinity, while their lowest scores were 1-0 against Bishop Reding and St. Ignatius of Loyola.

While the Sr Girls Field Hockey Team remained undefeated, the Jr Girls matched that feat, never losing a game; winning 5 out of 6 games and tying 1 game. The Jr. ND Squad's highest score was an astonishing 11-0 victory over St. Thomas Aquinas, being held scoreless only once during their tie game (0-0) against Bishop Reding.

With both teams sitting at the top of their leaderboards in their division it was only fitting for both teams to head to the HCAA Championship Game for the second time in 2 seasons. These games were played at Bronte Athletic Park in Oakville on Friday October 19th.

The Poppy Project

By Alessandra Auletta​This Remembrance Day marks the 100th year anniversary of the end of WW1. Remembrance Day is a memorial day that is observed by multiple countries in the world, and is a day to remember those who fought and died for our freedom.

On November 11th, at 11:00 am the world will pause to commemorate and pay tribute to those that have died in the line of duty, and Notre Dame will be no different.

With guidance from Mrs. Obrovac (Dept Head of Canadian & World Studies), our school community has come together to work on a Remembrance Day project, which involves our very own talented ND students. With the leadership of Mr. Vicic (Dept Head of Tech) and Ms Tolan (ND Art), these very different clubs have come together to combine and share their talents, to create a moving and meaningful display of remembrance, the Poppy.

The Poppy has become an iconic symbol of Remembrance Day, and what better way of commemorating this milestone anniversary then creating our very own Flanders Field. 100 poppies will be on display in the Spectrum at ND to mark the 100 year anniversary of the armistice that ended the First World War.

ND'S OCTOBER STEAM UPDATE

STEAM Gooey Fun!

By Emily NobesSTEAM at ND thrives off the idea that community and peer-support are major keys to finding success in your endeavors. October certainly demonstrated this idea, bringing the aforementioned concepts into the club, and allowing ND's STEAM Club to showcase them to the community.

On October 11, 2018, Julianna Marr, an ND alumnus and current McMaster Engineering student, returned to the school to speak to those in attendance about her journey in STEAM. This talk lent ND Students some insight on what it’s like to explore career options, apply to universities, and to live the university life.

After such an educational talk, STEAM was inspired to continue their work preparing for the various community outreach opportunities that they have coming up, including the 'Gifted Students' from local elementary schools visiting on Friday, October 19th.

60 students from various elementary school gifted programs visited the school and took part in a morning of touring different classrooms, hearing and partaking in demonstrations from our talented teachers and students, and spent the afternoon circulating through our infamous STEAM activities in the library, getting hands on experience with all areas of STEAM, and learning everything that the members of the club had to say.

October was a busy month, but there's so much more to come. STEAM meets every Wednesday in the Lecture Hall, and has various clubs branching off this year, including Electric Car and Horticulture initiatives… and we are always welcoming new members.

Keep an eye out next month for more from the STEAM Club, and follow @nd_steam on Instagram for everything in between!

ND Introduces the SOCIAL JUSTICE CLUB

﻿﻿﻿﻿​By The Social Justice ClubWe are excited to announce that the Social Justice Club at Notre Dame is once again running for the 2018-2019 school year. We are a progressive group for learning and acting on social issues, particularly those affecting the more vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and communities of our world. We encourage awareness and hope to inspire students to be active members of the community. The Social Justice Club is formed by students and allows them to connect, build community and engage in experiences that challenge their perception. As we are a community deeply devoted to faith, it is our Catholic duty to promote stewardship of all creation and encourage our students to empower their peers. Some of the initiatives we are already involved in are our ND Green Revolution Recycling Revival, in which period one classrooms deliver their blue bins in the SPEC to be sorted by members of the Social Justice Club, Best Buddies, Eco Team, as well as members of grade 9 Religion and Environmental Science class. We are also working with STEAM and collaborating with their branch groups such as the Horticulture Club.

We will also be collaborating with Habitat for Humanity in November, as well as organizing our “Be a Hunger Hero” Food Drive, hoping to help the at needs groups in our community. Through our initiatives, both within and outside of the school, we hope to bring more mindfulness to issues such as, but not limited too; environmental initiatives, women’s rights and equality, inclusivity of minority groups, mental health awareness, and poverty.If any students are interested in being a part of some meaningful and impactful activities this year, they are encouraged to come and join. It’s never too late to change the world…

Notre Dame at ​Burlington Culture Days

﻿﻿By: Sierra PearceOn September 29th, the Notre Dame Art Society’s collection of beautifully painted dresses and vests was featured during the Culture Days event at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Student volunteers from the Art Society accompanied Ms. Tolan to the gallery for the day, discussing the fabric art with those who came in, and talking to other artists present at the gallery.

The event ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Saturday, and the Notre Dame Art display was a hit among those who stopped by. The Notre Dame Art Society is extremely proud for theirs to have been the only display provided by a school, as well to have been the only school group personally invited to the event. Several student volunteers helped to discuss the art with onlookers during the day, and also got a chance to see or try many unique kinds of art showcased by Canadian artists.

​Some of the art, aside from the Notre Dame display, included traditional hooking, oil painting, wood carving, looming, and more. There was also a children’s zone full of different arts and crafts, many of which Notre Dame volunteers helped to direct. The event was free, and an excellent experience for all who attended.

Council's Corner

​By Emily NobesIn September 2018, mere days after the school year began, the race for Student Council positions began. Several elected and interview positions were up for grabs, and it didn’t take long for the application forms to be snatched up. The next two weeks bore the fruits of the candidates labour. Campaign posters of all kinds filtered through the now infamous TV slideshows, capturing the attention of the prospective voter. Students prepared their speeches and sat down in interviews. Finally, the group of dedicated candidates was painstakingly narrowed down to your 2018/2019 Student Council.

Our co-prime ministers, Billy Stewart and Keziah Oduro, already had a chance to introduce themselves last month (they’re always on the ball), you can check that out here.

Aside from our two capable Co-PMs, Student Council is comprised of people from all grades, bringing together the voices of the school. You had the chance to hear a preview of what your Grade representatives have in store for you when they presented their speeches in September, but they can’t wait for you to get to know them better.

ND's October Sports Update

Reporting by Percy BonomaleMr.Montoya, Athletic Director coming in for a report for the fall season 2018/19.

First and foremost with football we have Jr. Football at number 1 in the league 7-0 record looking to make an 8-0 in their final game against HT and defend their championship status in the HCAA.

Senior football is looking to break into the playoffs with a win this week. It's been a rebuilding season with the grade 11's leading the pack there.

We've also got our Senior Girls Basketball team looking to defend their HCAA Championship and their undefeated record against STA later this week in their final game of the season and defend their championship in the playoffs.

Junior Girls Basketball has turned it around this season they went from winless last year, this year they are currently a 500 team and looking to host their first playoff game in a couple of years.

Junior and Seniors Boys Volleyball are on the rebuild and looking to make some upsets in the playoffs.​

The golf team ended the season on a high winning the Burlington golf championship which took place at Burlington golf and country club. The team edged out Nelson to win the best team score by 1 stroke. We would like to wish all the best to the graduating players Ryan Kennedy (who has been on the team for 5 years) and Ben Booker. The future of ND golf is bright with Avery Mahoney and Ryan Hogan

Both field hockey teams went undefeated on the year we have the Junior Field Hockey ladies picking up a Gold Medal Championship finishing off with an undefeated season

Senior girls field hockey also won every game this season, including the HCAA Championship and now are moving on GHAC semi-finals against Frank Hayden.

​ND's Annual Used Sports Equipment Drive

By: Danielle GravinaDo you have any gently used sporting equipment that you don’t use or have outgrown taking up space in your garage? There are many children across Canada who don’t have access to these very items. Do you know how big of an impact these items may have on a child’s life? This year marks the ninth consecutive year of a community used sports equipment drive to benefit First Nations youth and ProAction Cops and Kids (Halton Chapter), and we hope to make a difference for these young people.

The sports equipment drive will run at Notre Dame from Monday, October 29th to Thursday, November 8th. Although any donations are certainly welcome, there is a special need for hockey equipment (especially sticks and goalie equipment), life jackets, and bicycles.

Many kids across Canada lack access to sport programs and these items can help these children participate in sports, which is proven to improve one’s self-esteem and to contribute to healthy lifestyles. All donations and proceeds from the drive go to youth in First Nations Settlements in Northern Ontario and help support the ProAction Cops & Kids - Halton Chapter. Any donation can make a difference, large or small!

We will be collecting items in the bin located outside of the Library in the Spectrum. Parents are encouraged to bring items to Parent/Teacher Interview Night on Thursday, November 1st. We’re also appealing to each of our feeder schools to support this initiative as well!

We’d like to thank the Winch Group in Burlington, who organize this event, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police, for allowing our school to contribute to the drive. It is our duty as Canadian citizens to give back to First Nations communities and make a difference in the lives of others. So let’s do this, Notre Dame!